AHEAD of tomorrow's game with Russia, fans from both countries will mingle in a series of organised events earlier in the day.

'Football Unites' -- a joint project by the British Council and Russian Football Union with the support of the FAI -- is using this fixture to organise some activities. At 12.0, a football masterclass will be held in Irishtown for students of St Lorcan's School as well as kids from the Sport Association of Russian Speakers in Ireland.

Tickets for the game will be handed out to participants, with ex-Russian international Nikolai Pisarev conducting the class.

Then, at 2.0, a friendly game will take place between fans of Ireland and Russia, including former players from both nations.

Fingal call for calm

There are sentences you never expect to write in this profession, and a story which effectively revolves around Sporting Fingal urging Libya to be calm is definitely one of them.

But that day has arrived.

While the League of Ireland season ticks on this week, Fingal striker Eamon Zayed is in Libya after being called up to their senior squad.

Zayed is better known for his Tunisian heritage, but also has a Libyan grandfather and was given the call by their new Brazilian boss, Marcos Paqueta, who is on a recruitment drive around Europe.

After travelling via Malta, Zayed is with his new team-mates, who are preparing for an African Nations qualifier with Zambia.

However, the striker has been carrying an Achilles tendon injury of late, prompting Liam Buckley to release a statement 'respectfully requesting' that the medical staff with the Libyan FA take all the necessary precautions before sending the ex-Bray and Drogheda man into action.

2 Members of the current squad who weren't born for Ireland's only appearance in the European Championships, back in 1988. Seamus Coleman entered the world later that year, while Greg Cunningham was born in January 1991.